SNAPSHOT.

The General Assembly lays down the law on, among other things, a state budget that reached $24.5 billion this year. In the 1990s, its 170 members passed 25% of the bills introduced.

                             NATIONAL RANK
                  North Carolina legislators earn 86%
                  less than California's the nation's
                    best-paid, but typically are in
                      session about half as long.
                    Base salary
 1. California       $99,000
 2. New York          79,500
 3. Pennsylvania      57,367
 4. Michigan          56,981
 5. Illinois          55,778
 6. Massachusetts     46,410
 7. Wisconsin         44,233
 8. Ohio              42,426
 9. Oklahoma          38,400
10. New Jersey        35,000
28. North Carolina    13,951
Source: World Almanac, 2001
                              LEGISLATION
                   The General Assembly has retified
                   30% of the bills introduced since
                   1981. The rate has dropped sharply
                       in the last four sessions.
Session  Introduced  Ratified [*]  Rate
1981       2,567       1,528       59.5%
1983       2,718       1,227       45.1
1985       3,463       1,099       31.7
1987       4,528       1,167       25.6
1989       4,053       1,160       28.6
1991       2,990       1,133       37.9
1993       4,271         849       19.9
1995       3,089         809       26.2
1997       3,378         807       23.9
1999       3,437         684       19.9
(*.)A bill is ratified after it has
passed both houses of the
legislature and been signed by the
presiding officers in each house.
Source: N.C. General Assembly, 2000
                             REIMBURSEMENTS
                       In 2000, legislators were
                    reimbursed $1.6 million for food
                      and lodging and $413,874 for
                   travel. Members claiming the most
                           in reimbursements:
                                     Total
                                 reimbursements
Charlie Dannelly (D-Charlotte)      $26,798
Marc Basnight (D-Manteo)             22,005
William Martin (D-Greensboro)        20,513
Luther Jordan (D-Wilmington)         20,434
James Black (D-Matthews)             19,481
Austin Allran (R-Hickory)            19,431
William Wainwright (D-Havelock)      19,378
Ronald Smith (D-Newport)             19,942
Verla Insko (D-Chapel Hill)          18,695
Charles Carter (D-Asheville)         18,675
Source: N.C. General Assembly, 2000
                              COUNTY RANK
                     The Senate has 50 members, and
                    the House of Representatives has
                      120. Counties with the most
                               lawmakers:
Mecklenburg  15
Guilford     12
Wake         11
Cumberland    8
Forsyth       8
Source: N.C. General Assembly, 2001
                               REAL JOBS
                      Lawyers, business people and
                     retirees fill most seats. The
                   House inludes a pastor and a stay-at
                       home mom. The breakdowns:
                          Senate [*]
Attorney                   36.4%
Business owner/executive   20.0%
Consultant                 16.4%
CPA                         7.2%
Education                   5.5%
Farmer                      3.6%
                            3.6%
                            3.6%
                            3.6%
Note: Table made from pie chart
             House [*]
Insurance     21.7%
Medical       20.3%
Real estate   10.9%
Retired        6.5%
Sales          6.5%
Other          5.1%
               5.1%
               4.3%
               4.3%
              15.2%
Note: Table made from pie Chart

(*.)Some members reported more than one occupation; percentage is of total number of occupations reported.

Source: N.C. General Assembly, 2001

[Graph omitted]